The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-08

Further, ne statee, that Virginia, in
April. 1861, formally withdrew from
the Union, that Gen. Lee thereupon
resigned his commission In the United
States army with the intention OF retir
ing 10 private life, and he correctly
adds:
"Thestste Of Virginia appointed him major
general and commander in chief Of her mill
iary forces. In open and crowded conven
ton he formally accepted this positioo, say
ing with dignity and grace Of manuer that
distingEished him, that he d d 80 "trustins
IN SiHnay God, an an sppL9yins conscience
AMI Ben, inIdisregsrd OF chronology
and II own statement, he announces
From. the first. Lee anticipated Ions
and bloody struggle, although from the bonn
bastlo oratory Of self elected politicians AZ
patriots, the people were led TO believe that
the whole hutiness would be settled In few
weeks. This folly led 10 a serious evil,
namely, the enl ittment Of soldiers for only
ninety days. Lee, who understood war,
fer the term, Of the war, but be pleaded In
vain; To add TO bis military difficulties, the
politician insisted ON too officers being elect.
ed by their men. This was point which
In describing TO me the constitution Of hii
army. Lee most depiored.
In February, 1861, the Coniederacy
was organized. An army had be IN
raised and fort had been captured
before Virginia seeded, the event
which caused Gen. Lee to leave the
United states army. He was in nc
condition, therefore, TO use his great
influence with regard to the term for
which COME defste soldiers should be
enlisted, and the final fact Ia that
there was 10 la h for the enlistment for
the Confederate army OF men for
ninety days, twelve months, or the
expiration OF the war, being the short.
est period fixed by the Provisional
Government Of the Confederate States,
though volunteers were sometimes &C.
cePted by generals for Temporary ser.
vice and shorter period than that re.
CURED by the law. 1t may be as well
In passing to correct the misuse Of the
term revolution" as applied to the
action OF the Southern States.
They had long established govern.
mente, having control OF all matters
Of property, life and person from the
cradle to the grave, and laws and
modes OF procedure remained undis.
turbed by their withdrawal from the
Union. This could not have been II a
revolution had occurred for which wal
was the only remedy, and this he
might have learned from the efforts oil
the peace Congress-" as vel as from
the published proceedings OF the com.
mission sent by the Confederate Gov.
eminent to the United States before
hosiilities had commenced.
The assertion that Lee most de.
plored the election Of officers by the
men they were TO command must ex.
cite surprise among thoee who knew
Lee best, and also the manner Ia
which our army was raised. The
citizens OF the several States volun.
teered to defend their homes aud In.
herited rights. Under the laws OF the
Confederate Government they were to
be received into the general service
by companies, battaions or regi-
ments. as organized under State au-
thoiity, and 10 be formed by the Con.
federate authorities into brigades, di.
Visions and corps d'aImie as occ Ssion
required, the general officers to be 3D.
pointed by tue Confederate Govern
ment. 1t is to be borne in mind that
the troops were drawn from tie pur.
suits Of civil life. Who 30 capable to
judge OF fitness to command q com.
pany, a battalion or regiment as the
men composing it2 The higher officers
might be wisely selected from men CT
established military reputation, or
from those who In service should man.
ifeet extraordinary ability, aud the ap-
pointments tf the generals to com.
mand the troops furnished by the
States was conceded to the Oonfeder.
ate Government. II the power to sp
point the officers had been conferred
upon the general commanding an
army we might have had q system
preferable to Gen. Wolseley, but wa
should not have had the armies whose
glory will grow brighter as their hi s.
Tory becomes better known.
To one ing less than Gen.
Lees foresight and knowledge of the
Northern people, Ga long and bloldy
struggle" must have been anticipated
before they would consent TO let the
South 60, but OF those who, relying on
the constitutional right OF a State to
withdraw from league 1t ad volun-
tarily entered when it ceased to an
swer the end for which 1t was estab.
lished, milder terms would eeem more
justly 20 describe their expectation OF
speedy settlement than such az
"bombastic oratory OF self elected poll.
tiCians ard patriots"
No more than justice is done Gan.
Lee In describing him when com.
mander in chief OF the ermy OF Yir-
ginia, and subsy quently, in the early
part OF his service, when q General OF
the Confsderacy, as working afsiduous
ly and wisely TO give efficiency and
coheeion 10 our improvised srmies.
His sterling merit was unscsthed and
his equanimity undieturbed by the
fears aed bes Of ignorance or malice,
and hia fame was too solid to require
such fiction as the following to
strengthen IL:
1.-THE formation ofan army with the NEAR
alone AZ his Disposal was a, colossal task.
ordloary man. In about two months
he had created little army of so 900 me =,
animated bv q lofty patriotism and courage
that made them uncomfortable by sitni-
lRrly Constituted army. In another month,
this army at Bulls Run gained complete
victory ovor the Northern invaders, who
were driven back across tho Potomac like
herds Of frightened Sheep"
Gen. Wolseley has previously sho wn
that he knew Confederate troops had
been assembled at Charleston, and had
reduced the United States fort at that
p ace. He might have learned, II he
did net, thai Confederate batteries had
prevented the enemy's vessel from en-
tering the harbor 1t Charl estop, a al
that, when Virginia was first threaten
ed, Gen Bonham's fully organized bi-
gade had been sent from South Ca o.
lima TO aid in the defense of Vireiuis,
and that in the first battle Of N acas,Ae,
or as he and the Northern people Sen-
orally call II, Bail Run, there were
troops which had bean brought up
from most Il the Confederate States.
Thie, there fore, was not an army
Created in two months by the COM
mander in Virginia. For much
longer period, and before Virginia had
joined the Uonfederacy, troops had
been in process Of formation in the va
rious States Of the Oonfederaov.
N.lI l. l.. a L &